Stencil-cutting machine.



W E. GHOATE. STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION IILBI) SEPT. 10, 1906.

Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WT/VESSES W. E. CHDATB.

STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE. APPLIUATIOK FILED 52312.10, 190a.

Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l/Wu/A/w 010,475

r r v l/V/T/vrssrs W. E. UHOATE.

STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE. AYPLIQATIQF FILED SEPT. 10. 1906.

Patented Feb. 7, 191.1.

3 BHBETS-SHEET 3.

. a avfrllld /Nl/E/V 7'05 Wig/4A4 E CHOA T5 5) I I v STENCIL-CUTTINGMACHINE.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. CHOATE, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of ietters Patent.

Application filed September 10, 1906. Serial No. 333,892.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM E. CHOATE, a citizen of the United States,residing at "Melrose, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Stencil-Cutting.Machines, of which the following description, in-connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

-My invention relates to machines for forum 'ing letters or othercharacters upon blanks of suitable material, more particularly to sten-.cil cutting machines, wherein a series of tools each adapted to punchor cut out a separate letter or character are mounted in a head orcarrier moved to bring the tools into opera tive position as desired.

My invention aims to provide a compact machine or apparatus ofnovel andsimple construction and operation, and which may be easily, rapidly andaccurately operated by hand.- The invention, however, will be bestfunderstood and appreciated by reference to the following descriptionwhen taken in connectiouwi-th the accompanying drawings of a machineillustrating one embodiment of any invention and selected for purpose of"illustration, its scope being more particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

Referring to the drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation with partsbroken out of a stencil cutting machine embodying one form 30f myinventionand selected for illustration herein; Fig; 2, a plea thereofwith parts broken away; Fig. 3,'a vertical section taken on the line3-3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, an enlarged vertical sectional detail of theperipheral portion of the carrier to Show the arrange- 410 ment oft-hedie punches thereinpFig. 5, a detail to show the ball bearings'for thepunch carrier and the norel'ball retaining plate therefor;- Figs. 6 and7 are enlarged vertical sectional details taken on the line 6-6 and 77,Fig. 2, respectively; Fig. 8,

an enlarged detail of the carriage rack and its actuatingpaw'l to bereferred to; and Fig. 9, a modified construction of the means formounting the line spacing pin; a

In the present embodiment of my invention, referring first to Fig. 1,the machine is provided with a suitable hollow stand A,

upon which the operating parts are suitably supported, and comprising inthe present insaidcolumn, 2, so that each tool or stencil o, may bebrought into a desired opcrative position. As here shown Patented Feb."1,1911.

said carrier, 4, is formed as a. rotary d1sk or wheel, .thehub, 6, ofwhich surrounds and is suitably journaled on said column 2, thelatter.in the present instance, beingpro:

' vided with' a shoulder, 7, on which the lower end of said hubrests'and is \'ertica]lyj up-- ported, suitable ball bearingsbeinginterposed to facilitate rotating said (34113316134, thereon. Inthe present instance, (seeFigs.

3 and 5) the balls of said bearings are;-re-

tained in place by a novel retainingtdevice comprising a frusto conicalring, 9, ogee in section (Fig. provided with a series of circularopenings or'apertures, 10, for said balls, and by which they aresuitably-spaced apart and retained in place while permitting them toroll freely between said hub and its supporting shoulder, 7.

Any suitable means may be provided for holding the, punches, 5, 1nposltion, but-1n the present embodiment of my invention (see Figs. 3 and4) the rim of said wheel or disk preferably has a series of verticalrecesses, 11. constituting guidesfor said stencil punches, 5, andpermitting them to be reciprocated vertically therein. This punch wheelcarrier is substantially similar in construction to what is known to thetrade as a hunting-tooth wheel, the punch recesses being formedat theperiphery of said wheel bet-ween the upwardly projecting tapered huntingteeth thereof, said punches, 5, -be-- ing retained therein by anexterior circumferent'ial flat. ring or bandr12, 'suitablyseu cured tothe rim of said wheel Flyby-any suitable means, as, in vthe presentinstance,v

by shrinking. In order to indicate the operative the particularpunch'monnted in the space between two adjacent teeth of s aidf wheel,said band, 12,is provided atits outer face. with the usual charactersemployed in -60 the head of the column, 2.

printing or cturespondencc, each of said character being placed orcentercd opposite the correspmitliug punch, or. to express itdifierently, the punches being removably I 5 carried in their carrierare placed opposite to the corresponding characters on said band.Preferably, however, said band is provided with a peripheral recessremovably to receive a ribbon, of'any suitable maiu terial as metal,celluloid or the like, on whichsaid characters are formed or secured.This arrangement permits the employment; of ribbons having a difl'erentarrangement of characters or difi'erent characters avoiding the expenseof stamping or otherwise marking the band, 12, when changing the lcharacters or providing a plurality of-bands or carriers.- That thepunches may be normally maintained in elevated position, said wheel isprovided beneath its teeth -with an inner peripheral groove, ll (Fig.4), com mimicating with the recesses in which the punches are mountedand receiving a series of torsionally acting lifting springs, 15. Eachof these springs has its inner end,'l6,

seated at adesired angle in said'wheel, and I its outer end, 17,apertured into one of they punches,.5. These springs normally act toelevate their punches until -said ends, 1'7, engage the upper face ofsaid groove when further-vertical movement is prevented. To j depreseach tool or die, 5, when the carrier, 4:, is rotated to bring saidpunch singly into its' forward or operativeposition (see Figs.

3-5 1 and 3.)..a suitable actuator or presser. 1S-is' preferablyprovided, the lower end of whichis adapted to enter the space-between ada- 1 cent hunting teeth of said carrier and bear uponfand depress thepunch mounted be- 4o tween them to causeit to operate upon a blank orsheet of stencil material positioned beneath it by suitable blankholding and feeding mechanism. presently to be described. This presser,15, in thepresent instance, is j clamped between the forked ends of anactuator lever, -19, (Fig, 3), pivoted .in

' teriorly atits inner end upon a pivot pin; 20. extending between andsecured to the sides. of said column. 2. said column being provided atits front with a suitable-vertical slot, 21, to permit the oscillationsof said actuator lever, 19. This lever is normally held elevated by acoil spring. 22. connecting itwith a pin, 23, on the head of saidcolumn. which is provided with a slot,

' 24, for the upper end of said spring and to.

facilitate its removal 'when desired. produce suitable depression of thepunch by means of the actuator. 18. and said lever. 19.

extends forwardly and is provided with overhanging vertical cars, 25,between which is pivoted upon a xhoriiontal pit-iot-p'imQG, a cam lever,27, the

lower end of which, beneath said pivot pin, 26,-

6 is provided with a cam,28, which rests upon a i sion of said camroller, 29,

operating .the cam lever,

Tof roller or other stud, 29, suitably journaled between upwardlyprojecting ears formed upon the front forked end. of saidlever,.19. Inthe elevated position of said cam ever,

227 (see Fig. 3), the lowpartof the cam, 28,

engages said roller, 29, maintaining the ac-' tuator'lever and. saidroller in elevated position by theraction of said springs, 22, with theactuator, l8,'above the upwardly probring any desiredlet-ter of theribbon and I the corresponding punch into position beneath saidactuator. In depressing said lever, 27, however, thecam causes adepresand the actuator l lever 19, whichcarries it, depressing saidactuator, 15, between the upwardly projecting and ad acenttaperinghunting teeth of the carrier and by itsfurther movement depress ing andoperating the punch to-cut'the character corresponding to the letter infront of it; In case the-carrier has not been turned sufficientlyto-place the desired punch 11lrectly beneath 'theactuator, the latterupon being depressed will engage o h other ot the: tapered hunting teethbetween which the punch 15 mounted and by its action on the inclinedface of said tooth rotate the carrier toenactly center the punch beltvthe actuat'or, 'which also brings said punch into properposi-tionrelative to the ml; and the letters previously cut therein. To cooperatewith the punches in cutting the stencils, I have, in the presentinstance. provided 'a yielding bed, l3. preferably composed of aplurality of strips of thick pa r superposed one on the other and morein y described later; a

Any suitable means may be employed for but as here shown (Fig. 3;] itsouter'entl preferably provided with a suitable handle. 27- tofacilitate.operating it. limnediately in the rear of the inner end ofsaid lever and ire-- mediately above its cam,- the forked head oftheeoluinn has an upwardly extending lug" in which i 4 ably mounted astop screw. to limit the upward movementlof'said lever.- In normaladj'usnnent, the tension of the lifting or elevating spring,"22,i's-such as to ca-use'the roller. 2-9. to bear upon the cam.28.,withsufiicient. force to swing the ever. 2T,."into thenormalslevated position shown in' Figs. 1 and I A: the sheets or blanks:'of material-employed and from which stencils are formed.-

are of different thicknesses and as they also vary somewhat inumformity.and as the, cutting bed presently described occupies a fixed verticalposition beneath the punches.

means are advantageously provided to ad just the presser, 1S,vertically. so that when" operated it may cause the desired depre slol'iof the. punches to cause them to cut through the stencil plate into andagainst saidriutting bed and also to limit the motion of the prcsser toprevent a greater movement than sutlicient for cutting or punching thecharacters. To this'end (see Fig. 3) said presser, 18, is removably andadjustably secured to said actuator lever, 19, the latter having aforked headlbetwecn the arms of which the upper end of said presser isreceived and clamped in position, and. is-

provided with a cutaway circular portion, 30. A horizontal clampingbolt, 31 (see Figs. 1 and 3) extending between and clamping the forkedends of said lever, 19, together has an intermediateeccentric portion,32, against which said cut-away portion is placed. To adjust saidpresser, 18, vertically, the clamping bolt, 31, is turned so as to causethe eccentric portion, 32, to rise or fall somewhat and the portion, 30,being held against it permits such vertical adjustment of said presseras may be desired, when the bolt, 31, may be again clamped in adjustedposition.

To prpvent the face of the punch being depressed into contact with themetal of the central bed strip guide or anvil, 33 (Fig. 3),

to be described, the vertical depression of the presser, 18, is limitedby the throw of the cam, 28, thereby also preventing itfrom striking theinwardlv extending flange or rim, 34, of said wheel or carrier, 4:. Thisarrangement permits any desired adjust mom of the punch within fixedupper and lower limits, and prevents any injury to the .cutting face ofthe punch itself. The depression of each punch brings its cutting faceinto contact. with the sheet of stencil material placed beneath itthrough which it cuts the particular character represented by thecorresponding character on the rim of said carrier, 4. a

In order to ho]d the blank of stencil matrial in suitable position andto feed or since it accurately in cutting out the characters suitableholding and feeding means are provided. To this end, the front of saidcolumn. '2. is provided, in the present instance. with a forwardlyextending lug, (Fig. 3), upon which formed a horizontal support, 36(Figs. 1 and 2),extending across the front of the machine and forming ayoke, its forwardly extending arms, 3'7. supporting a guide rod, 38(Fig. 2). for a stencil plate holding and feedii'ag carriage,

39 (Figs. 2 and (3), which is slidable there on from left to right andvice versa. The upper face ofthis support, 36. isprovided with right andleft guides. 40, 41, respectivel v, and with an intermediate upwardlyprojecting lug. 42,1'ecessed-at its upper face to constitute the guideand anvil, 33, referred to. for the movable bed. strips, 43, and againstwhich said punches out. The

of said rack.

bot-1y of the carriage, 39, referred to, is tubu lar in formconstituting a sleeve slidably mounted on said guide rod, 38, and thatsaid carriage may be prevented from turning on said guide rod, it isprovided at its under side with a longitudinal vertical recess, lag

50, journaled intermediate its ends i'n'said.

column, 2, the rocking or oscillations of said shaft causing the springpressed pawl, 48, to engage the teeth of said rack and automaticallyslide the same and. ;consequently said carriage, 39, to the left(Fig. 1) step by step as each punch is returned to its normal elevatedposition. To oscillate this rock shaft .arm, 50, anysuitable'meansmayybe em ployed, but in the present embodiment of my invention, itsinner end is preferably provided interiorly of the column, 2, withahorizontal arm, 51 (Figs. 1 and 3), connected at its outer end by alink, 52, to said actuator lever,-19, so that upon depression of thelatter, through the operation of said cam lever,,27, said link, 52,isalso depressed. This movement of the link depresses said horizontalarm, 51 (Fig. 1) rocking said shaft, 50, and swinging its exteriorvertical arm to the right, carrying the pawl with it and causing it toslide freely over a tooth The reverse movement of said link and shaft,50, caused by the contraction of said spring, 22, when the handle is elevated or released, swings said arm, a l), and its pawl in the oppositedirection, causing the latter to engage the rack tooth, referred to, andslide the latter to the left, so that the carriage will be moved onestep also to the left, thereby to space the blank or sheet of stencilmaterial to aposition to be operated upon by the nextpunch'. In thepresent in-v stance, the spring, 53 (Figs. 7 and 8), which normallyretains the said pawl. 48.,in engagement with. said rack, is inserted ina circular groove, 5-1, formed in the front face of said pawl andconcentric with the, pivot pin on which the latter is mounted, itsendsbeing turned in opposite directions,I one -of which is seated in anaperture formedin" the pawhand the other in an apertu i'e in the rearface of the arm, 49, said spring nornially actin'g toelevate the outeror-right end of said pawl into engagement with the teeth of said rack.As here shown, said pawl slides upon the front face-of said rack andthat-it may positively actuatethe same, it is provlded with-arcarwardly-extendinglor oil s aftgf T (Fig.

set horizontal tooth, space between the teeth of said rack?" so that thelatter is actuated positivel by a force exerted in the line of itstravel'and normal to the face of the rack teeth. thus preventing slipand avoiding thc'biiiding usuallv produced by a force exerted in anv -otherdirect-ion and interfering movement of the carriage along its guiderod,38.1 v is has previously been ainst asuitable bed,

iaterial preferably comprisingjtwo sed; strips of thicltpaper adapted totravelto the left '(Fig. 1) upon the upper face of said horizontalsupport. the

ated, the punches gaides i-4O and 41, directing said movement.

thereonl These strips receive the portions of material or scrap cutoutfrom the stencil sheet by the action of said punch and remove thesame. These strips are supplied in rolls carried by suitable horizontalreels, 5G. rota- 41". of vielding or ILS' upper end with a cam lever,ob, wh1le its 5.7, adapted to enter the with the free sliding I,

' it-ably mounted within a circular recess in the lbottom of said base,1, upon a vertical pivot 3), which is secured to said base, 1, andprovided'with a retaining nut,

.58, .to; hold the reels in place while 'permitting them to rotatefreely. -The free ends of these strips are carried out through a slot,59 (Fig. 1), at the right side of said'base.'superposed one upon theother, and carried over an idler, 60, .to the right end of said 36, andthence through said guides.

' away atits front to form an overhanging end to facilitate insertingthe-sul'ierposed strips beneath it. That these strips may be inoved byand riage to present fresh or uncut portions to the cutting actionof thepunch, the carriage.

39. is. respectively provided at; its left end (Figs. 3 and 7) withupper and lower clamping jaws. 61, '62. between which the said stripsare inserted and bvwhich they superposed bed with said carf support, 40.33,41- respectively, the latter guide, 41, being cut 5 ends of E areclamped to the carriage. The upper jaw,

61, as here shown, extends rearwardlv from i an upright arm or lug. 61.

, atthe right end of said carriage, 39., The lower jaw, 62, is

formed upon a-plate, 63, having a central aperture or slot by which it-'is' 'slidablv;

mounted on s'aid arm, 61". This plate is provided immediately infront-of said arm, 61, with a movablevertical' rod. (4. its'lower coilspring surrounding said rod and interposed between said carriage andsaid plate.

end extending through and guided in a 'vertical channel formed in saidcarriage. 39, a

63, normally acting to elevate the rod,'-said plate and itsjaw'to'brin'g it 'into' clamping il-contact with the; upper aw, 61.

For. the

proper positioning of the strips between said aws, and to Enid plate,6",

rovid'ed' with :1 depending througha circular stop pin, 65, ex-

prevent- "lateral movement of, and-its jaw, 62, the jaw, 61, is

in said frontend is provided with forks, 9, embracing said upper end,which are pivotally eonnected therewith by means of'a horizontalpivot'pin. TO. The inner and lower ends of these for 's are providedwith rounded cor-' nersor cam faces to bear upon said plate. 63. and thelever has a rearwardlv extending arm, '71. constituting a finger andthumb piece by'which the lever niav be turned to a vertical position tocause it forked end to bear upon and depresssaid jaw plate thereby torelease the bed strips. or which may be depressed or turned down topermit said jaw to be elevated by its spring for clamping. the same. Bythis arrangement the bed strips are firmly grasped by said jaws and areforced to move with the carriage as the latteras moved step bystepthrough the operation of its pawl and rack described. With said arm.71, elevated and the strips un clamped the carriage may be freely movedby the hand which'operatessaid arm and brought into any desired relationto the punches. That thecarriage may be prevented from movingautomatically when the strips are not clamped b v said the dependingpin, 671:. isprovided at its lower end 'with an inwardlv extendinghorizontal arm,

72, (Figs. 7 and S), which res s upon a rearwardlv extendmg pin, T3,secu. d to said pawl, and operating to downwardly to disengage its toqtfrom said raclt when the fing r piece, T1. is thrown up to releasezsaidbed trips. When in this position the actuation of the cam lever, withthe consequent rocking of the pawl arm, 4:9, will have no effect uponsaid rack,

46, and consequen not upon the carriage.

39, so that the latter rt 11 stationary and is not fed by the dep :27.The connections between the cam lever, 27, said actuator lever. 19.andsaid pawl. 48, are such that the-latter will feed said carriage whenthe operating lever, 27. is depressed about half way and again elevatedswing the pawl same, a" coil ssian of said. lever.

and before the punch is depr ssed 'suf-' ficientlv to bear upon or cutthe blank, so that the stencil. plate carriage. may along or spacedsimilar to the manner em plqved in typewriters" or instruments ofsimilar character,

aperture formed Referring-now more particularly to Figs.

he stepped PINS and with said frame,

wihwardly or outwardly as desired.

' I i i 3 and 6, thecarriage, a9, is provided with suitable means torholding the stencil plate in position to be operated upon and while thecarriage is ted or reciprocated on said I vided guide rodtBS. In thepresentinstance. said means comprise a normally horizontal plate holderT-.l, pivotally comiected at its front end with a normally verticalswinging frame, 7-5, in turn pivotally connected at its lower endbetween forwardly and downwardly curved arms. 76. of said carriage,

39, and provided with laterally extending stop arms, 77 .(Fig. 6). Saidarms. 76. are adapted to engage the rear and lower edges of said arnis.7?. and limit the outward movement thereof. thus preventing said frame,75, and theholdelgfTet, from swinging outward or forward more thansufficient to facilitate inserting the stencil plate in position. Fornori'nallydepressing the .rear or blank receiving portion 'of saidholder. 74, a coil spring, TS. is connected with sald plate inthe rearof its pivotal,

F, thereby caiis ing the blank to overlie and' rest upon the bed strips.To prevent holder below a horizontal or operating position', thecarriage, 39, is provided with a vertical supporting bar or plate, 79(Fig. 6), removably and adjustably secured ther on, so that it may bemoved in or out and the bottom of said holder. ends,. has a horizontalhere shown in depel ldingearsor lugs on said holder, 74. In the presentinstance, this-pinis pro titled with a plurality of flat faces, havingtches, 81;. formed therein and adapted to )e singly engaged by theupperedge of said erticalbar, 79, for positioning the holder lVhile anysuitable number of notched faces may be provided, in the presentinstance but four,

notched line spacer vided with two, three, four andfive notches. each ofsaid brought intothe-lowe r position by turning said pin, so that itsnotches maybe engaged by said supportingplate', 79( 1T0 prevent this pinfrom sliding in its l-i'carings. the outer pin bearing, in the presentinstance, is provided with; a vertical stop. here shown as a screw. 91'.the in-nerend of which is received'i-nja circiun'feren't'ial' groove,92; of said-pin. This; construction permits the pin to be turned onrotated freely in its bearings for adjusting it but prevents anylongitudinal movement, so that as the holder and the blank held therebyare moved to bring the next notch of the pin upon the supporting bar;79, there will be no variation in the interval orspace between the linesand corresponding to the space betw' -n the notches o the pin.

In the modified construction shown by faces being adapted to bedepressing the lines, from one to five. may

74, intermediate its as a pin, 80, suitably journaled I Fig. 9, the lug.9 which may act as astop to limit the depression of the thumb piece foroperating the clamping lever, is pro at its under side with a verticalsocket. $1.1 coinnui'nicating with the groove, $12. of said pin, 80. Itsopen end has a spring pressed ball. 95. of the same diameter as thesocket and which prevents lateral movement thereof, the lower portion ofsaid ball entering said groove. 92, and maintained in frictional contacttherewith by a coil spring. 96. seated in said socket, 94-. and actingto depress the ball. In turning the pin to bring a desired notched faceto line spacing position, the ball rotates freelyin its socket butprevents the pin from moving either inwardly or outwardly, therebymaintaining the holder in the proper line position, as describe-c. Theholder is moved to cause each of said notches in succession to rest uponsa id support, by tilting the carriage bymeans of the rearwardlyextending finger piece, 82, and sliding' the pin over said plate supportuntil the next notch is brought into engagementwith its edge. By thisarrangement, any desired number of be cut upon the stencil sheet orblank, preserving" the required or desired space between the characterscut in said lines and arranging the lines symmetrically upon the blank.

That a stencil Eblank may be suitably clamped upon the holder, thelatter, in the present instance, is provided with a spring pressedlever, 83, best shown in Figs. 3 and 6. the rear end of which has ahorizontal clamping plate or jaw, 84, to engage the upper rear face ofsaid holder or to clamp the rear edge of the stencil blank between them.The opposite end of this lever has a torwardly-projecting thumb piece tofacilitate elevating the said clamping jaw, 84. to permit insertingorremoving-the stencil blank. That the stencil blank may be suitablypositioned in said holder between said jaw and the face of the platebeneath it, the latter is provided at its right and left ends withsuitable horizontal slits or recesses to receive the front edge of saidplate and which are of uniform depth. so that the edges of the stencilplate may be maintained parallel with the line of travel of saidcarriage or with the line of'clniracters cut therein by the punches.

To prevent loosemotion of the carriage, 39 on its guide r0d,38, the leftend of said carriage sleeve (see Figs. 1 and 7) 15 provided with -ahorizontal screw; 85, tapped into a horizontal recess in the sleeveportion of said carriage. The bottom of this recess receives a frictiondisk, 86*, bearing upon said guide rod, 38, and n'efera'bly of brass,between which and said ilClJllSlllllg screw a coil spring, 86, isinterposed, the tension of which may be adjusted by turn- LOO is nextagain tilted bed strips. *3. and to riage conveniently in o said screw.thereby to vary the pres sure of the disk against the guide rod andobviously preventing loose motion. By providing a friction bearing ofthis type the necessity and use of oil is avoided.

As herein shown.- 111) machine is also provided with a copy holder. 87.having a vertical arm, 88..which is slidably and removabl v secured in ahorizontal 211111.89. in turn removablv secured at the back ofathecolumn. Q. by suitable clamping bolts, 90.

This. holder provides a very convenient support for the copy and topresent it in any desired posit-ion relative to the opera tive.

In operation, the stencil plate holder is grasped by its finger andthumb piece and depressed sufficiently to disengage the support. 79.when it may be drawn to an outer position to facilitate inserting thefront edge of the stencil blank in the slits of said holder and beneaththe jaw, 84. This is effected li raising the jaw, 84, by depressingthethumb piece. inserting the blank and then releasing said thumb piece,the spring 83 then operv a-ting to close the jaw down to clamp andretain said stencil blank (shown at I Fig. 6) in fixed position. Thespace regulating pin, 80, is then turned to bring the desired notchedface. into operative relation to said bar, 79 accordingto thenuniberoflines to be out upon the stencil blank .The carriage and s'wunginwardlv to bringthe first notch of. the space regulating pin, 80, uponits support, 79, when the arm. 71 -of said lever, 68, is elevated ,torelease the permit.- sliding the carb v one hand-to-bring the blank intodesired position relative to the punch presser, 18. The carrier.- 4:. isnext rotated to bring the desired'character shown upon the ribbondirectly.beneath'tlie-Presser. 18, or to "bring thespacebetween theadjacent teeth directlybcnea'th the sa iie,'\vl1eii' the handle of theoperatingl'ever. 27. is de pressed to force'the punch down through thestencil blank into and against the flexible bed 'strips beneath it.- b vwhich i'i'iovement the'desired character is cut in the stencil.-

blank. Simultaneouslj with this movement the link. 52, depressed to rocksaid shaft.- 50, and cause its outer or. front arm. filuto swing to theright (Fig. 1) to. bring itspawl into engagement with the next toothotthe rack into a position to produce, the desired.

.feding movement upon reverse movement of the pawl. The subsequentelevation of' a the rock shaft. 50.'its

the handle produced either by the spring. Ti.

or more conveniently perhaps-by elevating of the punch out of contactwith the bed and stencil blank. immediately followingwhich.

outer arm. 49. and said pawl oscillate. or move to the left (Fin. 1

thus sliding the carriage and blank holder of the jaws, 61 and 62,'

tion is not limited to the specific detai construction nor .to thearrangement,

hand. permits elevation one space in positionto presentthe blank toreceive the next letter of a word to be cut therein and leaving thehandle in upper elevated position. The mechanism is timed to produce thefeeding movement of the carriage as soon as the punch'is elevahdout of.cont-act with the blank. Simultaneously with this'spacing movement ofthe carriage, the bed strips. through the clamping action are caused tomove therewith so as to present a fresh or uncut portion of said stripsto the cutting action of the next punch, said movement also removing thepunched out material from un der the punch. The punch carrier. 4. is

then again turned to bring the next letter of the word to be cut beneaththe actuator when the-operation is repeated. \Vhcn. how ever, the end ofthe word is reached or it is desired to produce more than a single spacebetween thewords to be cut. the operating lever'is depressed. half wayand again elevated, said partial depression and ubsequent elevationmoving the carriage and stencil holder one space to the left. When onelinehas been cutthe holder is tipped upwardly and slidoverthe "support.76*. to

bring the next line spacing notch in prsition to rest upon it and theholder is released and maintained in desired position throughtheoperation of.its sprin TS. as described.

\Thile in the eniljodii'nent of my invention herein selected forillustration. I have described a machine provided with a rotary carrier,my invention obviously is not limited theretoas' an movable carrier maybe cin plo \'cd-.'siicli for example. as a reciprocating. or oscillatingcarrier moved back and forth upon the stand so as to bringa desiredletter orcharacter -forniing'tool into pcsition hen'eath the actuator.i\ I v. invention furthermore is not limited to the letters orcharacters used in correspondence an v other cha rac'ters'niay be formedupon the punches or suitably impressed, embossed or printed "uponthebandof the carrier; Furthermore. the .toolsfif. which have beent'lescribcd as pro ".vidcd at their lower ends with cutting faces to cutout stencils, may be prm'ided'with suitable embossing o1"pr1nt1n facesto ems bo s or print characters upon a plate. card or strip rather thanto cut orpunch out the characters therefioni. I desire it to beunderstood I1 in) 1 of parts herein shown for illustrative purpose only.

scope of myinvention.

Claims. -1..;A machine of the type described comprising in combination aone piece frame or stand having a central vertical tubularcoh .l-imnhaving a shoulder formed exteriorlv as the same may he modified and':iried vwithout departing trom .the's'pirit and 'iso' nearer thereon, amovable carrier 'jonrnaled on said column'and supported by saidshoulder, a series of character forming tools mounted to slidevertically on said carrier, a single actuating'device arranged tooperate said tools singly. a hand operated lever to operate said device.means to present a blank to the action of said. tools. means operatingautomatically to return said device and tool to normal. position. andmeans Operated thereby and mounted Within said column to move said blankpresenting means forspacing.

2. A machine of the type described com&

prising in combination a support. a carrier movably mountedthereonhaving a series of Icharacter forming tools and adapted to be moved byhand to bring each tool in oper ative position. one or more bed str psmovably mounted on said support, a carriage for positioning a blankbetween said tool and said strip or strips. means for operating the toolpresented by said carrier and for there after movingsaid strip or stripsand said carriage. and a device for controlling the movement of saidstrip or strips by the movement of said carriage.

A machine of the type described. comprising in combination a one piecesta-nd having a tubular vertical column provided with an exteriorlyshouldered portion. a tool carrier journaled thereon and supported bysaid shouldered portion. and provided with .a series of tapering teethand vertical recesses alined with the spaces between said teeth.character forming tools movably mounted in said recesses. the supportforsaid carrier permitting; it to be moved by hand topresent the toolssingly in operative position. a carriage having blank holding means tosupport a blank in operative rela tion to saidtool. and tool-recessengaging means. operative by one-hand. for determinately positioningsaidcarrier. operating the presented tool' mounted in said recess. andprovided with connected mechanism operated thereby for movingsaidcarriage and its blank holding means for spacing purposes.

. 4%. A machine of the tv e described. comprismg' in combination amovable.carrier,

provided with a series of vertically movable stencil,punches. atubular'ucolumn support on which said carrier is mounted to permit ittobe moved forpresenting the punches singlyjin operative position. apresser ar. ranged to operate the punch presented by the movement ofsaid carrier. av blank holder. spacing means therefor, hand operatedmeans comprising a pivoted lever having cam surface to depress saidpresser and actuate sai-dpunch. and means mounted or housed within saidcolumn for returning said Presser to normal positionand to actn ate saidspacing means.

5. A machine of the type described, co1nprising in combination, amovable carrier provided with. movable stencil punches and supportingmeans to permit it tobe moved to present a 'desired'pnnch in cuttingposi tion, a movable bed of fibrous material for the punches to cutagainsfl and c bed hotelingz carriage having means for positioning astencil blank between said panches and bed.

hand operated means for operat'ing. said punch in said position. andmeans actuated by said operating means to move said carriage for spacingpurposes and thereby cause sinniltaneous feeding movement of said bed. iv

6. A machine of the type described comprising in combination. a rotarycarrier pro vided with a series of stencil punches and supporting meansto permit it to be turned to bring the punches singly in cuttingposition, one or morcbed strips of fibrous material for the punches tocut against. a support therefor, a blank holding carriage t'm'positioning a blank of stencil material in' cutting position. handoperated means for operating the tools when moved to cutting positionmeansoperating automaticallv for moving said carriage for spacing theblank. and means mounted upon said carriage tor causingr said strip orstrips to move with said carriage.- 7

7. In a machine of the type described. a rotary Wheel or disk provided,Witlr'a series of vertical peripheral recesses. each adapted to receivea character forming" tool; a band secured to the rim of said Wheel forretain ing the tools in place. and provided vvith removable. characterindicatinp; means corresponding to the characters to be formed by saidtools. H i

9. In a machine of the type described. the combination of a tubularcolumn stand presentinga cylindrical head. a wheel or disk shaped-toolcarrier having its bub onrnaled exteriorly on said cylindrical head andprovided with a series of vertical peripheral rccesses. a series ofstencil punches circumferentially arranged and slidably mounted in saidvertical recesses, resilient means n01:- mallv to hold said puncheselevated, and hand operated means to enter said recesses when singlypresented thereto for position-. ing and depressing the punch therein.

10.. In a niachineof thetype described, a carrier provided with aplurality of character forming tools,'means singly to operate'saidrtools. a yielding bed. a carriage provided wu'th means forreleasably clamping said bed thereto to effect feeding movement thereofwith the spacing movement of said I 'and comprising a rack on'saidca-rriage. a pawl. and connected mechanism for moving carriage. meansconnected with said carriage for supporting a blank inopeiative'position relative to said bed. and means operatively connectedwith said tool operating means said carriage and; blank for spacing andfeedingsanl bed success vely to present new portions thereof to. theaction of'said tools.

11. In a machine of the type described.

stencil punches; a blanlrsupporting.and feed mg carriage provided withmeans for moving itfor letter or word spacing. a blank holder.

thereon provided with a rotary'device. ar-' ranged transversely to thedirection of carr age movementand-having a plurality of faces eachprovided with one or more notches 1 corresponding .to. one or more linesof char;

acters to be cut on a-blank. and"carriage means forengagingone of saidnotches to adpist theholder transversely for line spacil said bearing to.engagesaid groove to pre 'vent'longitudinal movement of said device.

13.; In a machine of the type described.

a. blank holder provided with a socket. a line spacing pin rotatably'mounted thereon havmgla cylindrical portion provided. with acircumferential-groove, and a spring pressedball mounted in said socketand. tr ctionall v en a in said groove to )rcvent lon itudinal movementof said pin'relative tofsaid holder.

1 45. In a machine of the type described. a carriage, a blank holdermovable thereon. a line spacing device for said holder'having aplurality of notched faces and rotatably mounted on said holder, andnotch engaging "means connected with said carriage for ;po-

sitioning the holder relative to said carriage; saiddevice being adaptedto be rotated to bring a desired notched face into operative relationwith said means.

'15. In a machine of the type described. a

tubularcolumn stand having a tubular head provided with a vertical slot.an actuator lever pivoted within said head and extending through saidslot. a tool presser carriedbv said lever, means for depressing said lever and means for returning it to normal elevated positionsaid meanscomprising a "spring housed within said stand.

.16. In a machine of the type described. a

, tool press'eig and an actuator carrier provided with eccentric thrustbearing meansagainst the position of said presser and securing the sameto said carrier.

17. A machine of the type described comprising in combination a tubularcolumnstand having an exteriorly shouldered cy-- lindrical head. acarrier providedwith a series of vertically slidable character formingtools recessed therein. said carrier having its hub journaled on saidcylindrical head and ,said carriers. means for carrying the free ends ofsaid strips outwardlv to present them to the cutting action of saidpunches. supporting and guiding means therefor. and means for operatingsaid punches and feedingsaid; bed strips.

19. In a machine of the type described character-forming tools. amovable carriage for presenting a blank to operate upon. a movable bedcomprising one or more strips .of yielding material for the tools tooperate against. abed holding'device onsaid car ri'agei. and means foroperating said tools and to effect subsequent movement of said carriageand bed.- 4

20. In amachine of the type described. stencil punches... a movablecarriagefor hold: .ing a stencil blank to be cut. a. movable bed for thepunches to cut against. bed plamps "for holding said bed to causemovement thereof with said carriageandmeans foroperating said punchesand moving said carriage and bed.

21. In a machine of the type describedl stencil punches. a movablecarriage for bold '-ing a stencil blank to be cut. aniovable-bed for thepunche to cut against. bed clamps for'holding said bed. to causemovement thereof with said carriage. and means for operating saidpunches and moving said carriage and bed. said clampshaving hand meantor releasing said bed and connected mechanism simultaneouslv operatedthereb to prevent feeding movement of said carriage.

22. In a machine of the type described. a stand provided with a lateralsupport. a blank holding carriage slidablv mounted thereon. a bed offielding material movable on said support. means for securing said bedto said carr said carriage for spacing purposes and the which the end ofsaid tool presser is seated, said means having provision for adgustmgbed secured thereto.

In a machine of the type descr bed..a.

iage. and means for moving stand provided with a lateral support, ablank holding carriage slidably mounted thereon, a bed of yieldingmaterial movable on said support, an adjustable clamp to se-.

blank cure said bed to the carriage to be moved thereby in spacing,means for moving said carriage for spacing purposes, and means connectedto said clamp to prevent spacing movements of said carriage when the bedis disconnected therewith.

' "2%. In a machine of the type described, a stand provided with acarriage slidably mounted thereon, a rack on said carriage, a pivotedpawl and connected mechanism to operate it to move said carriage forspacing, one or more bed strips. means for connecting and disconnectingsaid strips and carriage for simultaneous movement f the same in feedingand, upon disco Iection of said 1 strip or strips and said carriage toprevent spacing movement of the latter.

25. In amachme of the type described, a

'movable blank holding carriage: a movable bed comprising one or morestrips of fibrous material. means for securing said carriage and bedtogether for sinmltaneousspacing or feeding movement, and means formoving one of them to produce such simultaneous movement.

26. In a machine of the type described, a movable blank holdingcarriage, a movable bed, means for securing them together means formoving one of them to produce simultaneous movement of the other, andmeans connected with said securing means for disconnecting themandpreventing a movement of either by said moving means.

:27. In a machine of the tjvpe described, a holding carriage providedwith means for moving it for spacing the blank, a movable bed, clampingmeans connected with said carriage to secure said bed thereto to causesaid bed to move with said carriage, and means connected with saidclamping means and operable in unclamping said bed to prevent spacingmovement of saidcarriage.

28. In a machine of the stand provided with an interior recess. a

type described. a. plurality ot stencil punches. a supp'kirtmg bed striproll carrier journaled within. said recess. a bed strip roll for sandcarrier. and

means for carrying said strip outwardly to present it to the cuttingaction of said punches.

In a machine ofthe type described, a movable carriage having means forholding a stencil blank thereon and provided with a clamping lever forremovably securing a bed strip or strips thereto to cause the latter tomove simultaneously with said carriage in one direction for spacing theblank and feeding said strip and. to release the latter to permit movingsaid carriage in the opposite direction and independently of said strip.

30. In a stencil cutting machine, a movable carriage, a movable bed andmeans mounted on said ii-arriage comprising a pin rality of clampingmembers for rcleasablv securing said bed thereto, one of saidmembersbeing mounted to permit of releasing movement and when moved to releasethe bed, providing a handle by which said car riage may be convenientlymoved relative to the disconnected or released bed. 3

31. In. a stencil cutting machine. a sti l port, a carriage slidablymounted thereon provided with. clamping members adapted to secure amovable bed thereto. a vertical rack secured to said carriage. and meansinclud-.

ing a spring pressed pawl l8 normally held connected with said clampingmembers adapted by unclamping movement thereof to render said pawlinoperative thereby permitting free movement of said carriage on itssupport.

In test-imoirv whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two.subscriljiing witnesses;

UL-LIAM CHOATE. \Vitnesses: i i

Aarntn E. CARSOX, SIDNEY F. SMITH.

. in operative relation to said rack. and means.

